I was recently given the Mid-Western United States Curriculum by Sarah Bean over at the Love at Home Education blog. I received this in exchange for a review. It was perfect timing for our family since we were in the middle of studying the 50 states. I was happy to take a look.
What is the Mid-Western United States Curriculum?
Love at Home Education has designed a dinner-table friendly, all-inclusive family curriculum. It is set up so your high schooler and kindergartner can learn together at their own levels.
I know this will be very appealing to a lot of you moms out there homeschooling multiple children. This curriculum was created so the family can learn together.
I have the 11 states that make up the mid-west. There is a curriculum for ALL fifty states, though. You can buy an individual state curriculum or purchase state bundles for various regions of the United States. Check it out HERE.
Format of the Mid-West Curriculum
The curriculum incorporates reading, writing, geography, and more. When you do one lesson, you are working on more than one subject at a time. You can use it, not only for your state study, but reading, writing, and art on some days. Pretty neat.
The basic format is this:
- Lesson 1: Facts and Symbol
- Lesson 2: Geography, State Shape, and Symmetry
- Lesson 3: Study of a famous person or landmark
- Extra activities and projects to extend learning
Lesson 1: Facts and Symbol
In the first lesson of every state, kids learn state facts and state symbols. Ms. Bean also gives suggestions for additional materials to use with this unit study. She lists books, a state recipe link, Prime Video streaming options, YouTube videos, and a link to the state song. My kids are partial to YouTube videos and cooking activities.
To help you study each state, you can use the information included in the curriculum OR use the additional resources suggested. What a perfect way to adjust the program to meet the needs of all your kids! The younger kids in the family can use the information given, while older kids can use the extra resources to learn even more about each state.
Once your family has learned about the state, there is a writing assignment involved. Kids in the K-3 grade will write one to two sentences about the state symbol or state facts, but your high schooler is expected to write a five-paragraph essay.
If you are unsure about writing, don’t worry! The curriculum gives you some guidelines and information. It also directs you where to go to help your older kids learn about MLA and APA style of writing.
The last piece to the state facts and state symbol lesson is art! Kids are to PAINT the state flower of each state. Here are the pictures of my children working on their Missouri state flower pictures. They really enjoyed doing this. It was a great way to include art in our homeschool, too.
Lesson 2: Geography, State Shape, and Symmetry
The next part of the mid-west state curriculum is looking at a state’s geography, shape, and symmetry (to incorporate a little math!). As with the state facts and symbols, the program provides you with information to use, and you can expand with the additional resources.
Kids then show what they learned with a writing assignment. For example, my son, who is 5th grade, had to write 3-4 sentences (a paragraph) about Missouri’s climate and seasons. My daughter, 7th grade, had to come up with three questions about Missouri’s geography and write a 3 paragraph essay about what she learned.
I like the format of the writing assignments. My kids are able to work on writing at a level that is appropriate for them. Yet, the writing expectations increase over time.
After writing, kids will study the shape of the state and draw it. It is one way to make sure kids really see how a state looks on a map. Kids will also use the state’s shape to practice symmetry.
Lesson 3: Famous Person or Landmark
The last lesson teaches a famous person or landmark for that state. For Iowa, kids learn about Herbert Hoover. When you get to South Dakota, your family will learn about Mount Rushmore.
Your kids will do another writing assignment on what they learned about the famous person or landmark.
Wrapping Up the State Unit Study
The final piece for each state is a project. The curriculum lists a variety of ideas. You can eat like the people of that state for a week, do a painting project, or hold a fake press conference. Kids can also choose to do a fun project around a state’s flag.
I like that there are many choices for a project. Both my kids have different interests and could choose a project they would enjoy working on. My kids love the option of eating like the people of the state for a week. They LOVE cooking projects.
All the states I reviewed follow a similar format. It is predictable. Your family knows what to expect and look forward to each state.
Highlights of the Mid-Western United States Curriculum
After looking at and trying the curriculum with my family, here are some of my thoughts.
- The curriculum can be adjusted to fit the needs of various ages in your homeschool. The whole family CAN use this curriculum together.
- With each state, kids learn history and geography. You can also incorporate reading, writing, and other subjects, too.
- If you like using unit studies, you will enjoy this curriculum.
- Kids get an overview of each state.
- You can choose how much you want to incorporate in your study. You can use the materials provided or use the additional resources to study even more.
Love at Home Education has created a Mid-Western United States curriculum for the whole family. If you want a United States unit study that maps out what to do for different grade levels, this might be what you are looking for.
To learn more about the curriculum or to buy it, click HERE. See if it is the right fit for your family.
